Kofi Annan calls for urgent collective action to address the climate threat

News Release | Monday 19 November 2012

Oslo, Norway – Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will today outline the serious consequences of ignoring climate change and address the steps needed to tackle this global challenge through collective leadership.

Speaking at the seventh annual Zero Emission Conference in Oslo, Mr Annan will:

• Stress that: “climate change is an all encompassing threat to health and security, stability and prosperity, and our global food supply systems.” ·
• Outline the wide ranging threats to the environment and global economy from climate change and will say that: “no nation, rich or poor, will escape its impact.” ·
• Argue that the world has so far “failed to find the vision, courage or leadership needed” to tackle climate change. He will call on world leaders “to put aside narrow national interests and work together for a global, fair and legally-binding treaty that commits all countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions.” · Call for the development and use of clean and energy-efficient technologies and for the phasing out of subsidies on fossil fuels.
• He will say that greening the economy could generate between 15 and 60 million additional jobs globally over the next two decades.

Recognising the effects of prolonged and devastating droughts across the world, Mr. Annan will outline the urgent need to improve farming techniques: “This requires us to invest in climate-smart agriculture, including the increased use of improved seeds with drought and water-logging tolerance, and the sustainable intensification of farming systems.”

Mr. Annan will deliver the message that all of us have important roles to play in tackling climate change and will call for determined leadership: “It is all our responsibility to ensure our children and grandchildren inherit a sustainable world – a world that allows mankind to live in peace and harmony with nature.” For a full copy of Mr. Annan’s speech to the seventh annual Zero Emission Conference, please visit www.kofiannanfoundation.org –

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